Planning a Trip to India |
Posted: October 1, 2014 |
Planning a Trip to India Planning a holiday can be pretty stressful at the best of times but going on a trip to India takes a bit more planning than hopping on a plane to Malaga. Having recently gone through this process here are some tips on what you need to do before you get to this crazy country… Get the Right Visa Many countries like the USA and Australia require visas but they have simple, online visa applications that are straightforward to fill out… India doesn’t. Your Visa has to be issued by the Indian High Commission and while you can fill out the application form online you have to post all the relevant paperwork off, along with your passport, two approved photographs (these have to be taken at an approved photographers, no photo booths as they are a different size to typical passport photos) and a return postage envelope with the special delivery charge paid for. A typical 6 month visa now costs a pretty expensive £102 plus the return postage charge. Make sure you follow the checklist on the government website and include proof of payment when you post everything off. The good news is the process seems to be fairly quick; I received mine within 4 days of posting it off, even though you are warned it can take up to six weeks. Make sure you don’t need your passport for anything in this time! If you work as a journalist the process can be difficult as India has really clamped down on people in this profession being allowed into the country. You will have to provide a letter from your employer to say that you are not travelling for work-related purposes and even then you may only be granted a one month or a three month visa. Another important thing to remember is that your visa starts from the day it is granted and not the day you enter India so make sure you don’t apply for your visa too far ahead or you may not have enough time on it before you go on holiday! Get Immunised Getting the right vaccinations is essential before you travel to any country. If you visitthe Fit For Travel website it will give you government approved advice about what vaccinations are recommended. In India the vaccinations you need can vary depending on what area you are staying in. For example, if you are planning on doing lots of travel in rural areas you may need the rabies vaccination, whereas if you are staying in coastal areas this is not required. Malaria medication may also be recommended depending on where you are staying. Your doctor or travel nurse should have a detailed map of India with the areas at risk highlighted so take their advice. Make sure you look into getting your vaccinations around six weeks before travel as some vaccinations need to be administered 4 weeks apart in order to fully cover you. Allow enough time for this before you travel. You may be covered for certain things if you have had boosters in the last 10 years but your doctor will have this on record and will be able to advise you on exactly what you need. Make Sure You Have Medical Supplies Contrary to popular belief, most medicines are available in India. Whilst they may not be the same brand you have in the UK, they will serve the same purpose. However, it is always advisable to take a small supply of essential medical items with you in case you are taken ill and you can’t get to a pharmacy immediately. The dreaded ‘Delhi belly’ is always a concern in India so take a supply of anti-diarrhoea medicine like Immodium. Taking some oral rehydration salts is also advisable to keep you hydrated if you do get a bad stomach. Many people travel to India without getting a stomach upset but just becautious. Only drink water out of sealed bottles, brush your teeth in bottled water too, avoid buffet food, salads that have been rinsed in tap water and ice in drinks. If you eat meat or fish the likelihood of getting ill is higher so only eat from restaurants that look reputable. Take hand sanitiser with you so that you can clean your hands properly before meals. Even though Malaria and Dengue Fever are only prevalent in certain areas it is always best to take precautions and try to avoid mosquito bites. Take a repellent that contains DEET (the higher the concentration, the better), wear long sleeves and trousers after dusk and avoid wearing strong perfumes or lotions as this can attract mosquitos. Take Some Sterling with You The currency in India is Rupees but this is a closed currency so you cannot take any local currency into, or out of, India. Take a small amount of Sterling with you in notes and you will be able to change this in most airport arrival halls. In tourist areas cash machines are readily available so don’t carry huge amounts of cash on you. So, there it is a; crash course in preparing for a trip to one of the most exciting countries in the world. Once all this is sorted there is only one thing left to do… Enjoy yourself!
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